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I have to disagree. The SBB (Swiss Rail) is now using a quite sophisticated TTS system [1] that sounds very clean and has a Swiss German accent in the high Ger

I have to disagree. The SBB (Swiss Rail) is now using a quite sophisticated TTS system [1] that sounds very clean and has a Swiss German accent in the high German its talking (Zürich accent based which is what most of the complaints are about). The old system was built using over 10k recording which was a enormous task The system now is able to announce pretty much anything including reasons for delay etc. and it does not sound like a bunch of recordings attached to each other. I am hoping it will be expanded eventually to switch accents depending on the region just how it already switches to French or Italian depending where you are. [1] https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/so-klingt-die-neue-stimme-der-sbb-832034335687 https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/so-klingt-die-neue-stimme-der-s...

ale42 4y ago
Except that... while the German-speaking one sounds relatively well, I am definitely unhappy with the new system in French. It sounds more unnatural (and harder to understand in certain cases) than the old system. Maybe it's just a lack of tuning of the French version vs. the German one, but still...
- sschueller 4y ago
  I agree, I hope the fix that soon. I think the product they are using is from Germany which may explain the quality difference.
  - ale42 4y ago
    Do you know what the actual product is?
4ggr0 4y ago
> Zürich accent based which is what most of the complaints are about I've given up on this a long time ago. Ads are almost always in a Zurich accent, except if the ad is for extremely regional stuff like secret cheese recipes or tourist ads for Graubünden. Zurich is the tech hub of Switzerland and the accent seems to be the default. Then again, who in their right mind would want an AI to talk with an accent from Thurgau (/s)
- sschueller 4y ago
  Well we do have Tschugger[1] which is definitely not Zürich Swiss German... [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1AwYqquL7k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1AwYqquL7k
  - 4ggr0 4y ago
    True, and thanks for reminding me! I've meant to watch it for some time now and heard that the second season was out. Have you watched it/did you like it?
    - sschueller 4y ago
      I watched it, it was ok. I did like the first season better.
      - 4ggr0 4y ago
        Might give it a shot then!

ale42 4y ago

Except that... while the German-speaking one sounds relatively well, I am definitely unhappy with the new system in French. It sounds more unnatural (and harder to understand in certain cases) than the old system. Maybe it's just a lack of tuning of the French version vs. the German one, but still...

sschueller 4y ago
I agree, I hope the fix that soon. I think the product they are using is from Germany which may explain the quality difference.
- ale42 4y ago
  Do you know what the actual product is?

4ggr0 4y ago

> Zürich accent based which is what most of the complaints are about I've given up on this a long time ago. Ads are almost always in a Zurich accent, except if the ad is for extremely regional stuff like secret cheese recipes or tourist ads for Graubünden. Zurich is the tech hub of Switzerland and the accent seems to be the default. Then again, who in their right mind would want an AI to talk with an accent from Thurgau (/s)

sschueller 4y ago
Well we do have Tschugger[1] which is definitely not Zürich Swiss German... [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1AwYqquL7k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1AwYqquL7k
- 4ggr0 4y ago
  True, and thanks for reminding me! I've meant to watch it for some time now and heard that the second season was out. Have you watched it/did you like it?
  - sschueller 4y ago
    I watched it, it was ok. I did like the first season better.
    - 4ggr0 4y ago
      Might give it a shot then!